Meyer lemon
Citrus × meyeri
The hardiest lemon; grow it in a pot where winters freeze.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 10 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: November to March
From: China
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
China, likely a lemon-mandarin cross. Indoor flowers smell incredible. Dab each one with a small paintbrush to set fruit.
Planting
Full sun / bright window. Soil: fast-draining citrus mix (pH 5.5–6.5). Spacing: Pot. Pollination: self-fertile; hand-pollinate indoors with a brush.
Growing
Water: when the top 2 in dry out. Winter: Brightest window, above 50°F; it blooms and fruits indoors. Spring: Move out after nights stay above 50°F, in shade first. Summer: Feed with citrus fertilizer. Fall: Bring in before nights hit 45°F.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Dec–Mar. First crop: 1–3 years.
What to watch for
Scale, spider mites indoors, leaf drop from sudden changes.
See if Meyer lemon fits your yard
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home